Splint for the setting and retaining in place of fractures of the long bones of the limbs



Sept. 18, 1923. g?

H. C. MASLAND sPLINT FOR THE SETTING AND RETAINING 1N PLACE oF FRACTURES oF THE LONG BONES oF THE LIMBs Filed March 5, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 TYTORNE s.'

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Y Filed March 5. 1921 INVENTOR:

Fatented Sept. 18, i923;

Nirsn srrs rar ria.,

HARVEY lVIASLAND, OF PHILADELHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPLINT FOR THE SETTING AND RETAINING l'N PLACE OF FELACTURES` 0F THE LONG- V BONES OF THE L11/IBS.

Application filed March 3, 1921. Serial 110.449,409.

T 0 (/,ZZ whom t may oon-cern.'

Be ft known that l, HARVEY C. MasLAND, a citizen of lthe United-States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented aV new and useful Splint for theSetting' and Retaining in l-)lace of Fractures of the'liong Bones of the limbs, of which the .following is a specification;

My inventionrelates in general to the-class of eXtensible splints `which are more particu` larly applicable for Vthe setting of the femur or the humerus, although my splint may be used to advantage in Connection AWith fractures of the bones of the forearm or of the lowerleg. 'Y l y The object of `my invention,"broadly considered, is the construction of acompound splint made of readily nioldable, bendable or pliable elements adapted to assume the shape of particular parts of the human body, and Yto be molded orbent to fit such parts and to Vbe attached theret0,.-finv combination With relatively adjustable compoundv en`` tension devices attached t0 the inoldable elements in such manner that they can :be moved `upon each other to effect the separation of the moldable members vafter the latter have been attached to the body. y i

In the fracture of the longbones Where a Want of apposition at the point of fracture hasto beofvercome by traction7 itis of importance that the traction element should be such as effeetivelyto 'occasion the desired' apposition With as little inconvenience fand' pain to the patient,` with as little injury totheY tissues and With as'perfect a replacement of the fracturedbone, as is possible.

Myinvention, generally speaking, comprehends a non-irritating'splint such as will assure the necessary egree of reduction under continuing traction.` s' My' Vinvention further comprehends #a splint of the charactertypically.illustrated inthe accompanying drawings and :hereinafter described, Whichipossesses the advan tages of being readily moldable to the=vary ing curves of the body in the region of the brokenV part,.the. moldable elements being adapted to be connected-With therseparableV niembersfwith the result that there is a more rigid and perfect attachrnentof the splint as a ivh'ole to ythe body, assured prevention of lateral or longitudinal slip, and more perfect distribution of vstrain and pressure, than can be secured'with splint devices nowcommonly used.

My invention still further comprehends reliable n'ieans for securing the splint menibers in casts of plaster of Paris or other binding material, at any desired point or points, for anchoring them to the body.

In connection With the separable members of my splint, l employ one or more bridge-s adjustable to A and spanning the cross diameters of the fractured parts, either above or below the fracture, which are attached to the sides of the splint members at any desired point so as to add rigidity and support to 'the splint as a ivhole.

To maire the bridge more effective, l apply to its spanning portion, devices to so vadjust it as to Vpesrnititto actas a rigid support for the exercise of traction in any desired direction vertical to the anis of the bone, in order to bring up the laterallydisplaced end of the broken bone to Vproper' normal alignment or apposition with the other end. y To veffect the separation of the movable members, l employ and connect with them turnbuclrle devices to exercise and effect the required longitudinal tension or strain necessary to secure the desired alignment ot the separated and overlapped endsof the bone.

From thefforegoing explanation, it will be understood that the moldable and attachable elements of my splint :are `so combined with the separable or traction elements and means for effecting the separation that by obvious and easy adjustments,` traction upon both parts of the brolrenbone can be exerted in the desired direction.

i To protect the body `of the patient from the effect of the otherwise angular and irritating surface of the moldable members which are adapted when bent into the proper forms to press against the body of the patient to reta-in the `splint `as a Whole in the desired position,-I Wrap these elements either before or after application, with cotton'or other preferred soft material in the nature of a padding, which I conveniently retain in place Witha covering of leather,

either real or artificial, or other Water-proof material, cut to the desired lengths with re* Yso and having eyelets along the opposite meeting edges through which lacets can be passed to hold the padding in'place.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings forms thereof which are at present preferred by me, since they will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention 'con sists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

In the drawings Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a patient assumed to have a fractured right femur, with my splint illustrated as applied.

Figure 2 represents a top plan view of the patient and splintrepresented in Figure 1.

Figure 3 represents a top plan of my splint before application. l Figure 4t represents a side elevational detail of the body member of the splint.

Figure 5 represents a side elevational detail ofa part of one ofthe sidemembers of the leg member of the splint. Y'

Figure 6 represents a sectional plan illustrative of a construction of pelvic ring.

Figure 7 represents a horizontal section, partly in plan, of one of the turnbuckles which I use to effect the separation of members of the leg element of my splint.

vFigure 8 represents a detail, sectional on the line 8*-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 represents an elevation of the bridge which I use in connection with the separable members of the leg elements of my splint. Fgure 1() represents a fragmentary section of the lower part of the separable member of the leg portion of my splint.

Figure 11 represents a fragmentary per1w spective of a. part ofthe bridge and of the lifting band which is supported by and movable with the bridge.

Figures 12 and 13 represent, respectively, a front elevation and a rear elevation of a patient assumed to have a fractured right humerus, with my. splint applied. Y

Figure 14 represents a perspective detail of my splint'removed from the foregoing patient.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring first to the first eleven figures of the drawing which illustrates: the application of my splint to a fractured femur, the body of the patient isdesignated 1,-the thigh the femurof which is assumed te be broken 2,--the footef the leg 3,--and the calf shown as wrapped in a' plaster cast, 4i.

The upper, moldable, fixed element which is adapted, in the application of my splint; to

be shaped to the side of the patients body and attached thereto by bands ff-fis designated 6, and hereinafter at times referred to as the body splint.

7 designatesthe lower, moldable, fixed element which is connected with the upper fixed element 6 by a. turnbuckle device hereinafter described. This element is bent back upon itself to form a double or loop-like, extended member, lin connection with which a Buck extension may be used. This extension, being well known to surgeons, it is unnecessary to describe. The lower element l, at times,- hereinafter'refer to as the leg splint.

, Both of the elements and 7 are preferably made of bendable or pliable metal which can be bent to assume and follow the outline of the patients body orY leg. l do not,'how ever, coniinernyself to metal as other bend.- a-ble substances may be used instead.

8 designates an adjustable pelvic ring for my splint, which is adapted to rest on the ischium, pubic'V bone and ilium, and which .serves the purpose of distributing the presf sure and strain resulting from its application. y l

To this pelvic ring are connected by any preferred means an extension 9 of the inner bend ofthe moldable element 7, the outer bend of whichis slidably connected with the body element V6.

Both bends of the lower fixed element 7 'i are, as explained, made of strips of metal or other bendableImaterial,V the outer bend being connected by a turnbuckle attachment ofthe body splint 6, and the'inner bend bei ng connected by another turnbuckle Vdevice to the extension 9.

Collars39 encompasstheoverlapping conf necting lengths of the bends with the body splint andthe extension.

The turnbuekle `devices which connect'the leg splint 7 `with the body splint ti and the extension 9, may be of any preferred conf struction. l prefer to make them inthe form of such rotary thumb-turning devices as are best illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 7, and designateA them 10. Each ofthe said devices is axially threaded at both ends and mounted upon threaded rods 11, i-Xedly connected with brackets 12 attachable by thumb nuts 13 at their endswith a series of bolt holes 14C spaced at the desired distances apart upon the extension 9, the bent part of the leg splint ,7, and the body splint 6.

It will be understood that by means of this adjustment the desired set of the turne buckles Acan be madersuch as to draw the leg splint 7 toward the body splint 6,l and the extension 9, or move them apart, in eith: er instance to the desired distance.

The turnbuclledevice as an entirety is simply a convenient means for adjusting the distances apart of the body splint and the leg splint in the applietin of my device'. to

the patient,-and, obviously, mechanically different devices operative to the same purpose may be used instead of thespecific device illustrated and described. Y

In connectionwith the body splint 6, the bands maybe applied at advantageous points for best fixation and desired distances apartV by resorting to thumb nuts. which pass through any one of a plurality of properly placed bolt holes 16 in said body splint 6, as illustrated in Figures 2, 3, and t, and said bands may also beof any desired length and adapted to be strapped to thebody by adhesive plaster or other preferred means.

17 designates a bridge, see Figures 1, 2, 3,

9, and 11, a good formV of which, viewed in the Vdirection ofthe length of the` leg of the patient, will be understoodffrom Figures 1 and 9. The sides 18 `ofthe bridge, are at connected` with the lo'wer Vend of the body tli) splint Y6 .and thefextension 9, or on 7,'by thumb nuts 19 which are adaptedto be passed through the bolt holes 1e as shownin 'Figure 7. Y A i' f The overhangV ofV cross piece `17 of the bridge is preferably in two 'parts as shown in Figure 9, and 'is' conveniently provided with a connecting thumb -nut 20, aslot 21 and bolt holes 22, by the use of which the bridge can bemadewider or narrower tov fit the patient; Y

By'all of the'foiegoing'devices, or their equivalents, it Ywill bek obvious that the bridge can be adjusted in any desired posie tion and fitted tothe proportions of thepatient. i

23 designates anA Yz nmsuitably connected with the bridge, vconveniently by a clamp nut 24, and extending a given distance, see Figures 1, 2, 7 and 11, outwardly from the bridge, so as to have connected with it a traction Y or lift-ing band, orwebbing 25, adapted to encompass the thigh of the patient between the pelvic ring Sand Athe bridge 17, wherever placed, and permit of ksuch lifting ofV one -end of the brolren bone vas will bring Yit into apposition with the other end.

The traction band 25jis made of the desired length, and after having been wrapped and adjusted around the thighcf the patient,

its free ends, which, as shown in Figure 11, pass through a clamp 26, `which lholds them splint by providing it with a series of retaining pins 27, see Figures 3, `5, and 10, which pass through 4apertures 28, and then ililbed the calf and said splint member with a plaster cast such asis shown in. Figures 1 and 2 and designated t. The pins 27 serve to anchor the said leg portion 7 in the plaster cast.

Of course, other means for effecting the union of the leg splint with the leg, such, for instance, as wrapping with stra-ps of adhesive plaster or bandages, may be resorted to. The Buck extension may, if desired, be utilized for additional fixation of the splint member 7` to the leg.

VThe details of formation, dimesions, connection attachment, of the elements which my splint as an entirety comprises, may, of course, vbe varied without departing from the principle of myinvention which, as already explained, comprehends the union or combination of the body. and leg members of the Vsplint which are bendable to conform the bottom,- -respecti-vely and conveniently,`

to the 'body and leg of the patient and when so bentare'retained in position,-with extensible elements which are provided with means to, and in fact by the exercise of traction do, force the retained elements apart, and inso doing serve to secure the apposition of the overlapped ends of thefractured bone. -Y

` Referring to Figures 12,v 13 and 141, which representa typicalembodiment of my splint adapted'to be employed in connection with a fracture of" a. humerus, the elements which I employ are essentially the same as those valready'described.in connection with a frac ture of ai femur,the distinction being that one plaster -cast is applied to the forearm and connected with abody cast extending upwardly Qverthe shoulder of the broken arm,--bafndages, casts.l

In this construction, which is simply illustratively portrayed, an upper moldable splint element 29 is connected with a lower moldable splint element 30, by a turnbuckle 31 connected with said upper and lower splint elements by brackets 32 and 33, re-

spectively connected with said elements, and

with the `threaded rods.

Inasmuch as the construction of this upper arm splint so far as its lbasic elements are concerned, is the same as that already described in connection with the splint for a fractured femur, it is unnecessary further t0 enlarge upon it except to say that the plaster cast applied to the forearm is designated 34: and the plaster cast over the shoulder 35, while, in addition, bands 36 connected below with a belt band 38 conveniently retain the plaster cast 35 in position.

A. sling of the character usual in the support of a broken arm is, for clearness of illustration, not shown.

It will now be understood that I have de vised a new and useful splint for setting and retaining in place of fractures of the long bones of the limbs, which embodies the feaif desired, wrapping both tures' of advantage enumera-ted as desirable, and that While I have in the present inJ stance,- shown and. described. preferred emA bediments of it Which in practice have' been found to give satisfactory and reliable resul-ts, it is to be'u'nderstood that the invention is sus eptible of modification in various particular-s without departing from its spirit or scope or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent,- is 1 Y l. A solint which comprises a benda-ble lember firmly attacbablc above the fracture, a bendable member firmly attachable below tbe fracture, connecting elements eX-r tending from said membermand an adjust able brace connecting opposing splint parte.

1.2, A splint which comprises *a bendalile member firmly attachable above the frac ture, a bendable member VVfirmly attachable below the fracture, connecting elements eX- tending. from saidV members, an 'adjustable bridge adapted to span opposite splint ele ments at any desired position, and provision yforlateral traction of a bone.

tion of. said fracture' by Vthe lengthwise adjustr'nlent of said. members, and a bridge spanning' the opposite. splint members at any desired point above orbelow the fracture.

A splint which comprises .a moldable member firmly attach-able' above the fracture, a moldable member firmly attachable below the fratture7 and means forV effecting the reduction of said fracture by the lengthwise adjustment of said members.

6. A splint Which comprises a moldable member firmly attaehable above the fracture, moldable member firmly attachable below the f neutre, arms extending from said members overlapping at the site of the-.fracture, and means for effecting therednction of the frzrcture by endwise adjustment of said over-V lapping slidablev arms. Y

7d A splint which comprises a moldable member firmly attacliable above the-fracV ture, 'a moldable member firmly attachable below the fracture, arms extending from said members overlapping at the site of the fracture, means for attaching a turnbuclde or other extension device to effect the reduc- Y tion of the ,fraeture by endvvisej adjustment of the overlapping and slidable arms, and means on the said overlapping arms to lock them together to retain the VYseparation should'it be desired-to removethe turnbuclde or other separating device.A L

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as Vmy invention, I have hereunto' signed my 

